AS DIVERSE AS the origins of the
people who comprise the multiracial membership of the Church of
Christ of today are the ways by which they first came to know about
the Church and its teachings. All of them have different stories to
tell concerning how and why they made that giant leap of faith by
leaving their former religions to join the Church of Christ.

In this special edition of our
Converts section, we put together the testimonials of 22 converts of
various nationalities and descent, as they tell of their
unforgettable experiences that made them decide to join the Church
as well as the profound changes such decision has made in their
individual lives.

INSPIRING CONVERTS' TESTIMONIALS

"How their lives have changed"

Convert's
Name

Convert's Testimonials

CLIFFORD STIRBA, M.D. American

'Always
grateful' As chief of the
Infectious Disease and Epidemiology Department of Windham
Hospital, Dr. Clifford Stirba has seen the worst what can happen
to people from all walks of life. "I take care not
only of general medicine patients but also some of the more
unfortunate patients in the world, such as the patients that
have HIV, which causes AIDS," he said, "I
see a lot of unfortunate young people who get sick and die."
Such experiences
have made him appreciate more the good things he is fortunate to
have. And it's not just having a stable profession and family
that he is thankful for. He professed: "I thank God that
He has given me the opportunity to have my
profession, to have my family, and my faith. And for this
I am always grateful."
Baptized in 1984, Brother Clifford often encounters people who
ask him why he joined the Church of Christ. "My answer would
be," said Brother Clifford who is currently head deacon in the
Locale of Norwich, Connecticut, "It's the teaching which
is the most sensible."

DARRYL BLANE BROOKS African-American

'A better
person' A
former Baptist, Brother Darryl said he had explored
different religions in search of a religion
"that is consistent with the
scriptures" His search ended when he attended an
evangelical mission of the Church of Christ in San Diego,
California. "When I heard the
gospel preached by the minister, I became interested" recounted
this federal prosecutor from Washington, D.C. "I was
intrigued when the minister said that there is only a single
Church that God intends to save. The minister spoke
nothing about believing in the Trinity, and that it was not
found in the scriptures." Concerning
how becoming a member of the Church changed him and the way he
views life, he said: "God's
teachings about marriage helps me to be a better husband. I have
become a better person."

THOMAS ZAFFARESE American

'More humble,
understanding, and patient'
Like many others, New Yorker Brother Thomas found the
Bible studies in the Church of Christ "very informative" and
that they "made a lot of sense." But more than just a learning
experience, his study of the teachings of and eventual
conversion into the Church of Christ changed him a lot as a
person. He disclosed: "Now, I became a
little more humble, a
little more understanding, and more patient."
Brother Thomas says he doesn't want to miss the worship
service because as he puts it, "if I did I would feel guilty."
For him, becoming a member of the Church of Christ is what every
person needs in order to be guided "in the right light."

LETICIA SANCHEZ Mexican

'100% sure'
Her first encounter with the Church of Christ was
during one of its worship services. "The first thing that caught
my attention/' said Sister Leticia, a former
Catholic from Tijuana, Mexico, "was there were no images [for
worship] when we entered the worship building. Also, the
brethren warmly greeted us."
After she attended the Bible studies and finished
listening to all the lessons taught to those who wish to join
the Church, she was convinced that she
has found what she had been
looking for.
She affirmed this when she said, "I
am one-hundred- percent sure that this is the true
Church. I have proven, in my years in the Church, that ail of
its teachings are from the Bible." In my personal
life, if I experience problems or have doubts or feel helpless,
"I call unto God and, eventually, all my problems are solved."

LLOYD HEADLY Panamanian

'I now live a
quiet life'
It had been his quest to find the truth concerning matters of
the spirit. "I always prayed to God
and asked Him if there is a church out therein which I
should belong to, I wish that You would show it to me" narrated
Brother Lloyd.
When he was introduced to the Church of Christ and had
the chance to study its teachings through a minister, his
reaction was one of wonder and acceptance. He remarked:
"It was so clear that I said to myself, this has got to be it."
Not only did he join the Church but he also brought in
with him his family. First to be baptized was his son, then his
son's wife and their children followed. Describing his life now
that he is a member of the Church, he simply said, "I
now live a quiet life, now that I'm part of the Church."

FRANK HANS KLAPPROTH German

'The right
way'
Brother Frank first saw how the Church of Christ
conducts its worship service when he attended one in Detroit,
Michigan, USA. He remembers his initial observations, as he
said:
"I was surprised that there was no cross; that
the men are seated separately from the women.
Everything was really organized. Everyone arrives at the
appointed time and leaves after the worship service is
over. There was no chaos or something like that.
That was my first impression and it was truly positive."
First impression indeed lasts, for, today, Brother
Frank is an active Church member in the Locale of Madrigal and
is fully certain about his faith. "I believe
that the Iglesia ni Cristo is the right way, the only Church
... where one could be sure that he would indeed receive
salvation."

KRISHAN LAL Indian

'So delighted'
Recounting his first time to attend the worship service
of the igiesia ni Crtsto (Church of Christ), 28-year-old Brother
Krishan said, "I was so delighted not
only with the way the choir members were singing the hymns. The
words of God are read straight from the Bible. I told myself
that I already found the true religion."
A former Hindu, Brother
Krishan looks forward to the
establishment of Church locales in his homeland,
India, and promises to help in propagating the faith there in
the near future. "When I return to India" he said, "I will also
invite my parents, relatives, and friends to join the Church of
Christ."

ROBERTO ROBRENO American

'Dedicated to
serving God'
Brother Roberto, an educator, experienced a major
turning point in his life when he first attended the worship
service of the Church of Christ in the summer of 1991.
"As soon as the choir started singing the first hymn"
he narrated, "I knew right there and then that I had
finally found Him [God] and His people."
He was convinced even more when he witnessed how the
minister read from the Bible the answers to questions he also
had in mind. He continued his study of the Church's beliefs and
was eventually baptized on September 5,1992 in the Locale of
Long Island City, New York.
At present, Brother Roberto is a deacon and the
president of the Light of Salvation organization in the Locale
of Chicago. He and his wife Doris, who is a deaconess, don't
mind traveling 170 miles to go to the house of worship twice a
week and fulfill their Church duties. He told us why: "We have dedicated our lives to serving God and our Lord
Jesus Christ."

ELVIA GARCIA, M.D.
Venezuelan

'We live in
peace'
Born and raised in
the predominantly Catholic country of Venezuela, Dr. Elvia
Garcia remembers how she used to "attend [religion] classes with
a Catholic priest" and study the
Bible like a history book." So, when she accepted the invitation
of her colleague Dr. Daniel Ignacio and saw how the ministers in
he Church of Christ preached the Bible, she quickly spotted the
big difference. "It was totally different" she said. ''The
minister presents questions about a certain subject and the
answers come from the Bible. He never gives his own opinion."
A former professor
at the Medical School of Zulia
University in Maracaibo, Venezuela, she migrated to the USA
in 1987 to pursue her career as a
medical practitioner. It was in the
Locale of Temple Hills, Maryland where she and her late husband
were baptized in 1989.
Sister Elvia now lives in Temple Hills with her
children, who have likewise become members of
the Church. When asked what impact becoming a member
in the Church of Christ as had in her life, she replied,
"In my home, there is peace. We live in peace. We live in love."

LOW MENG SOON Singaporean

'No other
Church'
Talking about what he likes about the worship services
of the Church of Christ, Brother Low Meng Soon said, ''The
services and all are conducted very orderly. There's no rushing
in or rushing out."
The first time he attended the worship service,
he also noticed that the minister would always refer to what is
written in the Bible. And so, Brother Low Meng Soon did more
than just listen. "I did read up the Bible" he
said, "and I found that what the Iglesia ni Cristo
[Church of Christ] is doing is exactly what is in the Bible, and
nothing else."
Confident that the Church he has joined is the one
founded by the Lord Jesus Christ, he asserted, "There's
no other church where I want to belong."

MELANIE BROOKHART
American

'More than I
ever thought possible'
Much has changed in Sister
Melanie's personal and family life since she joined
the Church of Christ in 2000 in Fresno, California. "God has given me more than I ever thought
possible" she said. "I feel that He is mending my character, my
marriage, and my relationships."
She no longer feels "disconnected and alone" as she did
at one point in her life in the past "For almost 50
years, I have searched for a meaning to my life" she said. ''Now
I have found it."

ANTHONY DARLING
African-American

'Everything
made sense'
When Brother Tony underwent the Bible Study on
Doctrines, he did not have a hard time accepting the teachings
of the Church of Christ because, as he said, "I was
learning things and everything made sense."
One of the teachings that had a great
impact on him was about the apostasy of the first-century
Church. He was amazed to finally understand and
know that the one true religion had been apostatized (turned
away from the true faith) after the death of the apostles and
that it was the reason we were brought up in different religions
afterwards."
He pointed out that "the wealth of the doctrines" that
the Church teaches only means that Brother Felix Y. Manalo is
indeed God's Messenger because "it's right there in the
Bible, too, and it's undisputable."

DALE MICHAEL SCHRADER American

'Something
I'll never forget'
It was on June 24, 1 978 when Brother Dale was baptized
in the Church of Christ at the Locale of Long Island City in
New York. He recalls that day with great fondness, saying: "After my baptism was over, the brethren were
so happy for me. These are people that I really have never
met before in my life. They were probably as excited as I
was, as happy as I was, That's something I'll never forget."
One of the many teachings of the Church that convinced
him to join was the lesson about God's messenger in these last
days, Brother Felix Y. Manalo.
He recounted, "I attended the Bible Study held at the
house Brother David Salvador. The lesson was about the messenger
sent by God." After hearing that lesson, "I knew
this was not just another church."
Brother Dale is, at present, a
deacon in the Locale o: Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. His wife, Sister
Asuncion, is a deaconess and their son,
Mark, is a choir member.

SURENDRA DEVI PARIYAR Nepalese

'Very happy'
Before, there are many things I did not know. I was
just following what the old people do, what they practice. And
even if it's the wrong way, I just followed their doings without
judging the right or wrong.
Thus noted Brother Surendra Devi Pariyar of his
life as a former adherent of Hinduism. Comparing this to
his life now that he is a member of the Church of Christ, he
stated, "there's much difference, I can see."
Gone are the days when he had no sense of direction.
For, as Brother Surendra said: "Now, any problem I have
in my life, every time I go to Church, I pray and I can see the
result. I can see the result immediately. I'm very happy now
being a member of the Church of Christ."

ROSELI SERNA Brazilian

'All the
guidance we need'
For Sister Roseli, there's no reason to doubt the
teaching of the Church of Christ on God's commissioning of His
messenger in these last days.
"It's all prophesied in the Bible." she said assuredly.
"God prophesied that there would be a last messenger, a man
coming from the Far East, and this was fulfilled in the person
of the late Brother Felix Y. Manalo."
She likewise acknowledges the authority of the present
Church Administration in teaching the brethren God's
words. "God continues to guide the Church through the
person of Brother Erano Manalo, the present Administrator of the
Church," she said. "We continue to listen to
the teachings, and we continue to have all the guidance we need
to serve God."
To her friends and family in Brazil, her message is ---
"[Translation] Please take a minute and listen to the teachings
because they are true. If you desire to serve the true God,
please listen to the Iglesia ni Cristo [Church of
Christ] teachings."

GREGORY CHIRSAN American

'It can't get
any better'
While some might think that joining the Church of
Christ is difficult, New York-based Brother Gregory
believes otherwise.
"Being a Church of Christ member is so easy,"' he
remarked. "We have commandments of God for everything,
even for our family fife. And if we do that, our life will be
easy."
He believes that Iglesia ni Cristo families have
"a better foundation" than other people. "It's when we
see how things work according to God's plan that it feels
great," he said, adding that "It can't get any
better."

SHUJI TANAKA Japanese

'The teachings
are good'
"There are many good things about the Church of Christ.
In this Church, the families are happy, the teachings are good,
the brethren are friendly, and on the return of our Savior Jesus
Christ, the members will meet Him." said Brother
Shuji. As greatly as he admires the orderliness of the Church's
worship services, he appreciates the value the Church
gives on the sacredness of marriage and family.
Unlike in other religions," he said,
"divorce is prohibited among married members of the Church of
Christ. Also, members place great value and importance on
family."

EDMUND NWABUEZE OJIMBA, Ph.D.
Nigerian

'Peace in
every aspect'
What is the Church of Christ? To this question, Brother
Edmund's answer is, "This is the religious organization
where one can really find peace in every angle, in every
aspect ... an organization wherein we believe exactly what is
written in the Bible."
A former Catholic, he had tried other religions such as
the Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostal Church, Anglican Church,
and others before he finally joined the Church of Christ.
According to him, the Church of Christ is "unlike other
religious organizations wherein you cannot really understand the
doctrines."
"I felt spiritually restless and empty" he said of his
past religious quests. It was only when
his former mathematics professor gave him a copy of
Pasugo: God's Message and he read about the teachings of
the Church of Christ that he began to find the right answers.""I found the Church's teachings to be correct"
he said. "Every single teaching it has is
purely based upon the Holy Scriptures."

MARCO BONI Italian

'My life
changed completely'
From the time he was baptized years ago, Brother Marco
attests that being a member of the Church of Christ has had "a
very big impact" on his life. "My life changed completely—the way I see
life," he remarked.
He firmly believes that serving God is a duty he ought
to and vows to always fulfill! because, as he puts it,
"God has pulled me from the darkness [and brought me]
to the true light, in the true Church, [for me]
to walk in the right way, to reach salvation, to reach
eternal life."

HON KONG CHIOW
Malaysian

'A great
opportunity'
When he first attended the Church's worship service in
Johor, Bahru, Malaysia, Brother Hon Kong Chiow immediately felt
a strong sense of relief.
"The hymn singing was very touching," narrated this
former Buddhist of Chinese descent. "Every word from the hymns
that the choir sang was truly a praise to our Lord God."
Baptized in September 1996, he soon became a deacon---a
duty he cherishes as God's wonderful gift." "I thank Cod for giving me this great
opportunity that I can be His instrument," he said.
"I will continue to fulfill my duty in the Church because I
truly believe that God is my protector and He will provide me
with the strength I need to carry my yoke until the final
destination."

GEORGE CHING Chinese

'Peaceful
mind'
Asked what impact his conversion into the Church of
Christ has had on him, Brother George has few but meaningful
words for an answer. "I found that the teachings help me to have a
peaceful mind" he said in Chinese, his native tongue.
Like other converts, Brother George notes that
by listening and adhering to the teachings of the Church, his
life has changed, "very much" in that he has "refrained
from doing bad things" since he became a member of the Church.
"Because of God's teachings which we constantly receive
during worship services" he said, "I and my family have
become more steadfast in the faith,"

DAVID MOORE African-American

'I feel very
secure'
For Brother David, the closeness of the brethren in the
Church of Christ is truly "something special." "No matter where you go," he said "they
appear to be friendlier, closer than real brothers and sisters,"
But more than this, what Brother David considers as
much more special about his being a member of the
Church is the change it has brought upon his life. "I'm
completely changed" he said, ''I feel that I'm a new
person."
He recalls how he used to have a hard time in handling
his problems in life, saying, "I didn't have a solution or a
way."
"But now," he said, "It seems like I have
Somebody saying ... this is the way."
Firmly believing that he now has God in his life,
Brother David declares, "I feel very secure in the
Church of Christ."